Name; Jonny O Negative
Age; 35
Bands;First band was in '86 called Ten Inches of Pain, then nothing to really
speak of till 1997 I was in The Worthless in San Diego.
I played bass in a band from SD called the Heartaches. Cheap Sex from whenever
we started in 2002 till now. 1/2 AST from Las Vegas is my current thing I got going.
I have played with the Lower Class Brats and Total Chaos also .
Role in Band; In all the bands I was either playing Guitar or Bass, oh once I did
merch for the LCB
How did it all begin? It all began in 1985 I was on the bus coming home from
school and this kid that skateboarded, who I thought was really cool, told me to
listen to a tape he had. I went home put on the tape and heard the most beautiful
thing I had ever heard. Side A was Dead Kennedys "Fresh Fruit for Rotting
Vegetables" and on side B was Suicidal Tendencies "S/T". It all just clicked all the
anger the way they were thinking it was how I felt.
So then in like '85 I started playing guitar. I tried to learn everything I could from
country to bluegrass metal, and of course punk. I had an older friend Jeff Austin,
who was a punk since the early eighties. He taught me a lot on guitar, he was also
a huge influence on me in punk and life... I looked up to him like a big brother.
There were some older punks in my town that really took to me and would let me
hang out with them and party. They had a band called The Sarcastic Assholes,
they played with all the great hardcore punk bands like DK, Angry Samoans, Luke
Puke and the Vomit, I cant even remember all the bands. This was like '84 to 86
maybe. They broke up and Jeff started TIP {Ten Inches of Pain} I would just
practice with them to get better. Then they sort of broke up and like in '88 or '89
we started a reincarnation of that called Big Gargantuan Brain. That was my first
real band that we started and played some shows. I was totally hooked after the
first show.
Who were your original influences? Like I said above Jeff Austin was a huge
influence Someother "normal" people (Not celebrities) were Shannon Naff(singer
TSA), Jason Eller (crazy punk/skater), Brian Baxter, those were just some of them.
As far as band people the big band would be Bad Brains, I love them. I saw them
in like 86 and talked to HR he was rad. I loved all the LA harcore stuff Germs,
Black Flag, X all of it, I love it. I met Wattie in like '87 I think and I couldn't
understand much (haha) but he was cool, and I meet Gang Green in the early
eighties and they were very humble along with Broken Bones, UK subs, GBH,
Accused all this was like 86 to 89. That was the big thing if they would talk to me
like I was just a guy I liked that. If their Ego was all in the way (Danzig, Harley
Flanagin, ) Then it turned me off. On the other side of that I know what tour is like
now and know that you have bad days so I forgive them haha.
Who are your current influences?
Current influences ummm as far as newer bands, I like Hope Conspiracy, the
Briefs, the new LCB album is amazing. Some bands I like are Career Soldiers,
Monster Squad is rad. I always suck at this cause I live music so there is just so
much. The older stuff that I have really been getting into is Big Balls and the
Great White idiot from Germany they are just so fucking good. The Professionals
have been influencing me a lot right now. A lot of Austrailian 77 stuff.
What is your proudest moment as a musician ?
Never giving up. Just sticking to my guns and being a punk when I saw so many
other drop out or be a suit and tie guy.
I am pretty proud of the albums I have to my name, and playing a show in South
America for 10,000 people was rad.
What is your most embarrassing moment as a musician? I don't know maybe
being to drunk to really play well. I don't have any really embarrassing stuff
What do you think would have been your path through life if you had
never gotten involved with music? That is hard to say cause it is such a part
of me. I was really into Sports Medicine, I have degree in Athletic Training. I am
into that and might one day go back to school for physical Therapy
Tell us something about you that few people are aware of. I am engaged to
a beautiful, brilliant women named Gemma. She is a very big source of support
and strength for me.
When you look back on your musical path to this point. What are your
deepest regrets? Not practicing more and getting better at an earlier age. Not
learning more about how to read music. I am pretty happy though it all happens for
a reason.
If you had the opportunity to start over, what would you change?
Maybe just the practice thing. I would have tried to understand the music biz more.
Who has been the most influential person in your life and why?
I don't know there are a bunch that did different things for me. My fiance is a big
one. My friends are good ones. Jeff Austin was a big one.
Please summarize the highlights & lowlights of your musical career.
Highlights would be playing in bands that tour. That is my favorite thing to do tour
and meet people.
Lowlight I don't even know. I know that I am pissed I missed that Avril Levine tryout
I coulda got that shit. That would be nice for awhile to be a hired gun by a big
artist. Get paid to play and be happy that would be nice.
What are your thoughts on the current "Punk" scene? How much has it
changed or stayed the same since you got into it? It has it's good and bad. It
is not that same as it was. I mean when I was young there wasn't such a thing on
image and a uniform. You made do with what you had. If you got jeans you got
jeans, there were no stretch jeans then. That is what I hate is the sameness of it
all. Here is the uniform for the average punk it is Dogpile stretch pants, a tight
band shirt, a belt that is for show and either creepers, or skate shoes. For the
crusty kid it is stretch pants or cammo pants, patches by all the crust and hippie
punk bands that they don't even listen to, a torn up Crass or Rudi P shirt and a
bullet belt.
Dude make your own shit and don't worry about other people. I hate kids that
complain about their hair or that they are not skinny enough. When did punk turn
into Anorexia are us. Fuck a flat iron have some fucked up doo. I HATE IT!!!!!
What are your plans musically in the future?
My big plans are as follows. Get management representation. Try to get a job as a
professional guitarist in a big band. Sell some of the 1000's of songs I have to a
publisher. Most of all start my own band that rocks the socks off you skinny kids
and reminds you of why punk was dangerous..... Thank you and good night.
PS all you big time bands and managers take note that I am a Gun For
Hire!!!! Jonny O Negative
